SIMPLE MICROSCOPE WITH HORSESHOE FOOT:

c. 1ST-QTR 20TH C.

FRENCH

DESCRIPTION:

This is a simple microscope with a a 'horseshoe' foot. The foot is painted black and the stage is oxidized brass. The remaining finish is lacquered brass. There are three simple stacked lenses that can be used individually or combined. Focus is by rack and pinion controlled by the knurled knob on the right side. The pinion is housed inside the pillar. There are two stage clips. It came in its original wooden box of light color. There is a livebox/compressor which would have been used in the opposite direction from the image shown below, as the instrument would not be able to reach focus if it was in the downward position, unless it was used as a deep trough this way and filled with e.g. pond water.

HISTORY OF THE THIS MICROSCOPE

Although The stacked simple ring lenses are reminiscent of much earlier microscopes made in England, this microscope is not from that period. This microscope dates to the early 20th century. This is illustrated both by the entry from the 1903 Henry Heil Catalog, seen here to the left, and also by the fact that the microscope is labeled 'Made in France' something that was not required until well into the twentieth century. Furthermore, the shape of foot on this instrument was not at all popular in English-speaking countries until the last years of the nineteenth century, but became popular in the early twentieth century.